Arsenal announced the signing of Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal today. The central defender joins for a reported £13.5 million from the La Liga side, and will go straight into the Gunners’ squad for the Premier League clash against Aston Villa at the Emirates stadium on Sunday. Arsene Wenger was keen to strengthen his side’s defence, and had kept an eye on the 23 year old Brazilian who having not featured in any games for his country, was granted the requisite work permit to play in the Premier League. Softly spoken, but hugely talented, Paulista described his feelings at joining Arsenal.

” First of all I want to thank God for the opportunity. It’s another dream in my career that has come true. I have only just arrived but I am already feeling really good here in London. I’m at a top club so that gives me more strength to be able to work and carry on, to be able to conquer much more in my career,” he said in an official club media briefing.

Fully aware of the fight for a place in the starting eleven, Paulista said he’ll be eager to play in a defence where he, Per Mertersacker and Laurent Koscielny will all be vying to start.

” I’m coming to a very big club and I know that I will play with great players. While respecting everyone, I want to play for my place in the team. I know that is not going to be easy, I must show my potential, I have to show that I can be in the group, that the manager can count on me. The same goes to all my team-mates. I will carry on the same way I have been since the beginning of my career. I have always respected everyone to get to where I am in my career, and I want even more,” he continued.

Wenger’s determination to get Paulista was crucial to his arrival at the Emirates, and he says he’s looking forward to working with the Arsenal manager.

” To me it’s something big… I came on his request, on the coach’s request. He asked to sign me and that gives me more strength and the will to be able to work. I see that he’s a coach that has been here for many years and this is important, not only for the team but also for the club. This is very important for everyone that works here in the club, to have a coach like this,” noted Paulista who joined Villarreal from Brazilian side Vitoria in 2013, and made 35 appearances in Spain.

Ambitious and keen to get started, Paulista insisted that with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott, and Mesut Özil in their team, Arsenal must be challenging for the big prizes, and on all fronts.

” I know that we have great players of a high standard, players who are real stars, because if they were not stars they wouldn’t be here. Arsenal is a very big team and it must always be competing for the biggest titles in the world. I have to repeat it – Arsenal must fight for all the most important titles around.”

Strong and confident in his play, Paulista gave the fans a brief insight on what they can expect.

” I am arriving at a big club like this and the fans can expect to find a Gabriel with a great will to help everyone. Not just thinking of me as an individual, because to me that is not important. I care more about helping the team and my team-mates also think that. I want to help everyone, so the fans can expect a Gabriel that on the field has a lot of will to be able to help the team win important things.”